Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1887-10-08
A VOLUNTEER VICTORY.


l
Ffrst Tussle with she Thhstle.
NEW YORK, Sept. 27.-The tickle god Of
the winds seemed disinclined TO favor the
rival yachts this morning with anything
but light breezes, and the public disap.
Polntment was as manifest as public inter
est has been on what was to be the first Of
three races between the Scotch yacht This
tie and the American yacht Volunteer 70
possession OF the American cup. The last
finishing touches were put upon the yachts
and everything superfluous removed from
both racers, even to the private tunnage Of
the crew. The conditions were most
favorable to the Scotch cutter.
The Thistle has always done her
best work on light winds, and there was
small chance of there being anything
more than light wind to-day. There was
considerable betting on the race, but it was
by patriotism in almost all cases, the odds
ranging all the way from 10 to down to
2 to on the Volunteer.
WAITING.
When the two racers reached the vicinity
Of the starting line there was over 200
yachts and steamboats, about them.
Thousands of people on shore
We're straining for a glimpse
at them; but even at Fort wadsworth.
where a large number of ladies were
gathered, the contestants could only be
dmIy seen through heavy mist Sailing
vessels going down the bay with the tide
blew their fog horns long and loud in dis
gust at the weather. About ten minutes
later the Thistle crossed the line, followed
soon by the Volunteer Both yacts were
close hauled on the port tack, each CARRYING
main and main club top sails, small lib top
sails and jib and stay sails. The
Thistle's lead was small, but she seemed to
move most rapidly in the light zephyr.
The official time of crossing the line was:
Thistle, 12:33:06; Volunteer, 12:34:5s,
The Thistle not only had nearer position
when the order to start was given, but also
went through the water faster. She got
over the line one minute and fifty-two sec
ondS ahead. The first tack was in toward
Clifton, Staten Island, and on that tack of
fifteen minutes the Yalunteer
SHOWED SUPERIORITY
over the Thistle in weather that had been
written down as the foreigners best. That
left no doubt of the result. The Volunteer
went by the cutter as though the latter was
anchored, and she stayed in front to the
end. The Thistle was bothered badly by
excursion boats the first tack, giving her
much swash. but after that they hung to
the Volunteer and throughout the rest of
the day she suffered three times as much
as the Thistle from the way they kicked
up the water and shut off the wind. 1t
was no longer race; it was a procession.
the result was
MOST DECIDED VICTORY
for the American sloop. Beating, stretch
ing and running with free sheets, the Vol
unteer outsailed the Thistle. On the home
run she lost ground, largely on account Of
the way the accompanying craft blanketed
her. The total distance was thirty-eight
statute miles. The correct time over the
course was: Volunteer, four hours. fifty-
three minutes, eighteen seconds; This
tie, i've hours, twelve minutes.
forty two seconds. Mr.. Bell, the
principal owner of the Thistle, is not
at all satisfied with the result. The This
tie, he declares, never moved so slow
through water. He was of the opinion
there was something wrong with the cut
ter's bottom, and she will be hauled out of
the water tomorrow with a view to find-
ing out what it is. He complained of the
excursion boats smashing the Thistle. Cap
tain Barr held the same views. He said
some of the crew had been notified anonym-
ously that the cutters bottom had been
''doctored," and the truth would be ascer.
tanned before Thursday. General Pain and
Mr.. Burgess took the victory quietly, bus
very happily.